THE HOUSE OF ENDINGS

THE FIRST RIDDLE 6

Claire clutched the glowing mystery book, its pages whispering secrets only she could hear. The chamber trembled as the cruel woman advanced, her lantern burning with black fire. Daniel’s voice echoed faintly from the shards of broken mirrors scattered across the floor, urging her to hurry.The first riddle appeared on the page, written in shifting ink.

“What is taken but never returned, yet grows heavier with each telling?”

Claire’s mind raced. The phantoms circled, their hollow eyes fixed on her. She whispered, “A story… it’s a story.”The book flared, releasing a shockwave that sent the phantoms shrieking back into their jars. The cruel woman staggered, her smile faltering for the first time.“You dare solve it?” she hissed. “Then you will face the next.”The pages turned violently, revealing another riddle.

“It binds the living and the dead, yet cannot be touched. Break it, and the house will starve.”Claire’s breath caught. She realized the book wasn’t just a puzzle it was a weapon. Each riddle solved weakened the house’s grip. But the second answer was harder. She glanced at Daniel’s reflection in the shards. His lips moved silently, trying to help.

“Is it… memory?” she guessed. The ink pulsed, uncertain. The chamber shook violently, shelves collapsing, jars shattering. The cruel woman laughed, her voice echoing from every corner. “Wrong… or perhaps incomplete. You must be precise, child. Fail, and the house will consume you both.”Claire tightened her grip, determination burning in her eyes. She knew she had only moments before the house closed in again.